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Miles of trails through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and surrounding timberlands make the Wild Woman trail run a favorite created by and for women. You can pick from three options: 50K, marathon, marathon relay (with teams of up to 4). The course is essentially one big loop with aid stations every 4-7 miles. There are 6 total aid stations (7 for the 50K) providing water, electrolyte drinks, and snacks.
There are four legs to the marathon relay with three exchange points. You can have two to four people on your team. If you want to run the entire marathon and still be part of a team, you must run the first leg of the relay for your team.
Start at the Wild Woman race headquarters (ultramarathoners start earlier than the rest) Leg 0 (50K only): 5 miles (easy)Leg 1: 7 miles (moderate)Exchange 1Leg 2: 4.6 miles (moderate)Exchange point 2Leg 3: 8 miles (moderate to hard)Exchange point 3Leg 4: 6.6 miles (easy to moderate)Finish at Wild Women race headquarters
In an effort to reduce paper waste, please bring your own waterbottle to refill at the aid stations; we do not provide cups as we are working hard to be a waste-free event.


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Food banks and charitable organizations are usually successful in collecting cans and boxes of food, but donated meat is harder to come by. A group of Utah State University Extension 4-H youth from Farmington wanted to change this and found a way to donate high-quality meat to the Utah Food Bank in 2005. They created what has now become an annual program that has provided 761,000 pounds of meat to Utahns in need over the last 8 years.
According to Justen Smith, USU Extension Davis County director, the Farmington 4-H Lamb Club began the donated meat project by giving a few hundred pounds of meat to charity as their service project that first year. Then Kelly Maxfield, a long-time 4-H club leader in Farmington and now Utah Food Bank board chairman, got help from his corporate connections, and donations came in from most of the northern Utah counties to pay for the meat.
"Now it not only involves 4-H youth, but many other people who donate trucking, packing, fuel and time to the project," Smith said. "This year, 92,000 pounds of meat were donated from Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Wasatch, Morgan, Millard, Tooele and Uinta (Wyoming) counties to distribute to the 472,000 Utahns in need with the help of approximately 120 volunteers. It's amazing how the program has grown."
The project works so well because donors raise enough money to buy up most of the 4-H livestock sold at county and state fair auctions and livestock shows over the course of about four months, Smith said. The auction "floor price" goes to the 4-Hers, and the meat goes to the food bank, so everyone wins. Now, every fall, volunteers from all over the state help sort and package the thousands of pounds of meat donated to the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City. The meat is then distributed by the food bank's 130 partnering agencies throughout the state.
"The significance of this program cannot be underestimated," said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank chief development officer. "Not only do the clients receive rarely available, highly nutritious meat products, but Utah Food Bank especially takes pride in the fact that many counties statewide are having a direct impact on our mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide."
This program teaches people they don't have to go around the world to help with a natural disaster, said Maxfield.
"Just walk down the street and you can see personal tragedy in the form of starving families," he said. "I tip my hat to all the 4-Hers who helped with this. They make me feel very good about the future."

subset: commoncrawl


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Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College
My work is a highly intuitive and subjective unconventional self-portrait that explores my imagination. Through the paintings, the books and the soft sculptures audiences can participate in my imagination experienced. The body of work offers an in-depth reflection of my thoughts, in regard to my imagination and the thought process I go through in order to create imagery. The use of subjective text on the paintings, books and toys, I have implemented school report comments that serve as a means to challenge the way personality and imagination can be perceived.


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Compare SNC DH110T with SNC-DH280 (2)
|Colour Type
Colour / Monochrome
Colour / Monochrome
12 V DC, 24 V AC, PoE
|Chip Inch Size
|Resolution TVL
|Sensitivity lux
|Dome Type
Variable Focus
|Focal length
3.1 ~ 8.9
|Auto Gain Control
|White Balance
|Electronic Shutter range
1 ~ 10,000
|S/ N (Signal/ Noise) Ratio dB
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Sony SNC-VB600 and SNC-XM632 IP cameras as well as SCA-S30 outdoor speaker were installed Sony video security cameras maintain a watchful eye over efficient farming operations and employee safety at agricultural specialist company Backa Sivac in the Republic of Serbia. Controlled from a central network monitoring centre, SNC-VB600 and SNC-XM632 IP network cameras play a central role on the busy farm. Protecting people, buildings and valuable equipment, the cameras have also driven a significant increase in employees' daily productivity. Background Located 165km from the Serbian capital Belgrade, specialist agricultural business Backa Sivac is a major food producer serving Serbia's domestic market. Employing over 60 permanent members of staff, the company produces a wide range of crops including wheat, barley, beets, soybeans, sunflower and corn. Farm workers' safety Spread across 1450 hectares of privately-owned land, the extensive site features many warehouses, grain silos and mechanical workshops together with arable land and a pig farm. The safety of farm workers across such a large site is of prime concern for Backa Sivac. As is the security of the farm's valuable inventory of mechanical equipment, fuel, fertiliser, seed and other materials that may be at risk in unattended buildings. Just as importantly, Backa Sivac needed to keep a close eye on the operational efficiency of farm processes to ensure that employees are performing adequately. Sony solution To help Backa Sivac streamline the efficiency and safety of its farming operations, Sony proposed a networked video security solution that provides round-the-clock monitoring of buildings, machinery and employees. Provided and installed by video security specialist and integration partner Star Master, the network of cameras gives farm management a detailed overview of activity across the extensive site – in all weathers and under any lighting conditions. HD video from each camera is transmitted wirelessly to Star Master's centralised network monitoring and control centre in the Serbian town of Kula. Here, images from each camera are viewed on a large 'video wall' of 24 screens. This provides network operations staff with an at-a-glance overview of activity in all areas the Backa Sivac site, day and night. "With the help of our technology partners Sony and Star Master, we've been able to increase commercial efficiency in many areas, reducing illegal activities and also enjoying better visibility of assets and farming processes" A total of twenty SNC-VB600 cameras keep a watchful eye over employees and valuable equipment in warehouses, workshops and vehicle garages. The compact 'all-in-one' network camera delivers crisp 720p HD video coverage via its wide-angle lens. Its built-in movement sensor can trigger an alarm event or switch on the cameras' integrated LED illuminator, a powerful deterrent to would-be thieves. With the addition of Sony´s SCA-S30 Outdoor Speaker, the camera's built-in microphone allows two-way voice communication between employees in outbuildings and network operations centre staff. Four farm tractors have each been fitted with a pair of SNC-XM632 minidome IP cameras. Boosting employee safety, the compact cameras monitor activity in the cabin and at the rear of the vehicle. Developed specially for in-vehicle use, the rugged SNC-XM632 captures crisply detailed Full HD images via its wide-angle lens and sensitive, high-resolution Exmor™ CMOS sensor – even in low-light conditions where other cameras struggle to see clearly. Video is recorded directly onto removable SD memory card while the tractor's in use. At the end of the working day, footage is automatically transferred back to base wirelessly for later analysis as required. Increased commercial productivity The arrival of Sony´s networked video solution has transformed commercial efficiency at Backa Sivac. The farm's management team report better visibility of day-to-day operations, from accurate assessment of employees' activities to monitoring of crop levels stored in warehouses. It's estimated by the company that overall productivity has been increased by the equivalent of one hour's additional labour per employee each day. More efficient deployment and monitoring of farm vehicles' movements has also contributed to major savings in fuel costs. Further benefits include heightened safety and security for farm staff, with the discreet presence of cameras across the site helping safeguard valuable buildings, plant and machinery. In total, Backa Sivac estimates that its investment in networked video security across the farm estate has been repaid in just six months. Why was Sony selected? Sony network cameras offered an ideal solution for Backa Sivac, providing detail-packed video images with high sensitivity and low noise – an essential factor for efficient monitoring at dusk or in in dimly-lit conditions. Fitted in agricultural vehicles, specialist cameras like the SNC-XM632 offer the extra benefit of reliable operation in hostile outdoor environments where rain, extremes of temperature and mechanical vibration are encountered daily. Customer quote "Growth in our business has previously been impeded by problems like theft and poor productivity. With the help of our technology partners Sony and Star Master, we've been able to increase commercial efficiency in many areas, reducing illegal activities and also enjoying better visibility of assets and farming processes." - Miladin Acanski, Director, Backa Sivac. Product list: 20x SNC-VB600 cameras 10x SCA-S30 Outdoor Speaker 8x SNC-XM632 minidome IP cameras
With over 40 years in the industry, Loon Fung has been providing oriental food to retailers, restaurants and cash and carry customers throughout London. In its new Stratford shopping centre store, opened in 2014, Loon Fung has installed a Sony video security solution to monitor its shop, warehouse and checkout area. Background When looking for a new video security solution for its Stratford store, Loon Fung made it clear that a robust video system was required which would offer the highest quality surveillance and monitor every angle of the premises. It was essential that the solution was discreet and non-obtrusive, but still capable of producing wide angle shots across the store to provide full coverage. The installation is a step forward for the wholesaler, which has migrated their video solution from analogue to IP to future-proof their security system, making it easier to use, whilst ensuring the safety and surveillance of the whole store. Challenges Retail environments require discreet security solutions, which offer the best quality images and coverage without intruding on customers and staff. Loon Fung also had to install a security solution which integrated seamlessly with the store's existing fixtures, but captured activity across the full expanse of the two storey premises, covering areas including the shop floor, warehouse, office, kitchen and food production area. Sony solution Sony Clarity and Quality – 30 Full HD and HD Sony cameras were selected to monitor every aspect of the store, including indoor and outdoor mini-dome cameras. This included 12x SNC-XM632, 13x SNC-EM600, 2x SNC-EM602R, 1x SNC-VM600, 1x SNC-VM602R and also 1x SNC-HM662 360-degree hemispheric-view camera. Results A fully integrated, easy to operate system has delivered comprehensive security at Loon Fung. The separate streams by Sony's cameras capture high definition recording without the need for a large powered server on the premises, meaning they can deliver multiple streams for monitoring whilst simultaneously carrying out motion detection throughout the premises. The IPELA ENGINE™ EX signal processing system and Exmor™ CMOS sensor used in Sony's cameras mean that the images look clearer, sharper and more detailed. These technologies work together to provide easy to review, high quality video content in every lighting condition, whether in challenging low-light conditions or with harsh backlighting. Why Sony was selected "Loon Fung's requirement for discretion and multi-area security made the combination of Sony's mini-dome cameras the ideal option" Having established a longstanding relationship with Sound and Safe, an electronic security installation company, through prior work on other sites, Loon Fung trusted they would deliver not only the highest quality security solution, but one which would stand the test of time. Thanks to the depth of Sound and Safe's industry expertise and knowledge of Sony's video security products, the company was able to deliver a solution which perfectly fitted its customer's requirements. This was achieved by implementing a system which integrated effectively into various parts of the premises, providing detailed video coverage of the entire site. The system not only secures the store and its contents, but also future-proofs the supermarket's investment by delivering full-HD imagery at a competitive and affordable price. Quotes Derek Chan, Loon Fung commented: "When we were looking to upgrade our security solution, we wanted wide angle imagery covering every aspect of the store which did not intrude on our customer's in store experience. Sound and Safe had recommended Sony's cameras from the outset and helped navigate our move towards an IP-based future. Since installing the solution just over three months ago, we have been very impressed. The technology delivers outstanding image quality and brings with it a whole host of more flexible surveillance options that will support our drive for reliable 24 hour surveillance." Jamie Merry, Sound and Safe says of the solution: "Having worked with Sony for many years, we remain impressed by the breadth and quality of its video security solutions which meet the high standards of a range of applications across various markets. Loon Fung's requirement for discretion and multi-area security made the combination of Sony's mini-dome cameras the ideal option. We have been working with Loon Fung across all of their sites, and Sony technology has been core to delivering the briefs and migrating the latest future-proofing surveillance systems."
Since its foundation in 1931, Hemel Hempstead School in the UK has set a precedent for excellence in education on a national and local scale. On its campus site in the county of Hertfordshire, the school has installed 48 Sony video security cameras to monitor its corridors and outdoor areas. Background When looking for a new video security solution, Hemel Hempstead School made it clear that a robust video system which would offer the highest quality surveillance across key areas of its campus was required. As an open site with a lot of public footfall, it was crucial that the solution provided safety and security for staff, students and visitors, whilst remaining discreet. The installation is a step forward for the school migrating its video solution from analogue to IP cameras to future-proof its security system, delivering higher quality image technology, making it easier to use and ensuring it stands the test of time. Challenges Educational environments require a sturdy security solution, which offers broad coverage and the best quality images without intruding on teachers and students. The school also required a security solution which integrated into the school's buildings, but captured activity across the expanse of the campus. The solution needed to deliver all the benefits of the latest technology including quality imagery in every light condition and easy operation. Sony solution A Sony solution of 48 Full HD and HD Sony IP cameras were selected to monitor both inside and outside the campus. This included 23 units of discreet mini dome SNC-XM632 cameras and 25 units of IR ruggedised SNC-EM602R models. Both models are vandal resistant with IK10 and ingress protected with IP66. Results A fully integrated, easy to manage system has delivered comprehensive security at Hemel Hempstead School. The IPELA ENGINE™ EX and Exmor™ CMOS sensors used in Sony's cameras, paired with advanced motion detection, means that high definition recording is maintained across the challenging low-light conditions in areas of variable lighting, particularly corridors. The transition to an IP solution has created a streamlined security solution at the school, with unsightly overhead cabling between buildings removed in favour of Sony IP cameras. A fully integrated, easy to manage system has delivered comprehensive security at Hemel Hempstead School Why Sony was selected Hemel Hempstead School tasked Steve Beadle Consultancy Services Ltd with securing their open site. Part of the remit included the need for an audit trail of staff, student and visitor movements across the site. It soon became apparent that the existing analogue CCTV system was not satisfactory and expert assistance was required to transition the security solution to IP. Steve Beadle Consultancy Services Ltd entrusted Sound and Safe Ltd to design and deliver the quality security solution and thanks to the depth of Sound and Safe's industry expertise and strong partnership with Sony's reliable video security products, the company was able to seamlessly fulfil its customer's requirements. This was achieved by implementing a system which fitted across the premises, providing comprehensive video coverage throughout the site. The system not only secures the school and its students, but also protects the investment by delivering full-HD imagery at a competitive and affordable price. Quotes Stephen Robinson, Hemel Hempstead School Business Manager commented: "When we were looking to upgrade our security solution, we wanted a robust option which did not intrude on the daily life of our staff and students. Steve Beadle Consultancy Services worked with Sound and Safe to recommend the ultimate solution for our needs and helped navigate our way towards an IP based future. Sound and Safe recommended Sony's cameras from the outset, and since installing the solution we have been very impressed and are more than pleased with our decision to upgrade from our former analogue system. The Sony technology delivers outstanding image quality as well as a more flexible and manageable solution that supports our drive for reliable surveillance and easy to operate systems." Jamie Merry, Sound and Safe says of the solution: "Having worked with Sony for many years, we remain impressed by the breadth and quality of its video security solutions which meet the high standards of customers across various markets. Working with Steve Beadle Consultancy Services allowed us to clearly visualise and realise Hemel Hempstead School's requirement for a discreet and robust solution. The combination of Sony's mini-dome and outdoor cameras ultimately used was the ideal option. Sony's technology has been core to delivering the briefs and migrating the latest future-proofing surveillance systems for this and many other installations."
A brief history of access control credentialsDownload
6 questions to ask when choosing a security systemDownload
Boosting on-site safety and securityDownload


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My question:
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Spies in Pop Culture...How Do I Love Them, Let Me Count The Ways!
My question:
6 comments:
- J K Maze said...
Interesting post. I like spy stories too, in whatever form, movies, tv, whatever, and instantly fell in love with Sean Connery, and then with every single one after that. Your book sounds intriguing. I'm putting it on my list, especially since I just bought a Nook yesterday.
- August 21, 2011 at 8:39 PM
- Tara said...
Thanks, Joan! I love the boldness of James Bond...talk about the ultimate Alpha Male!
- August 21, 2011 at 11:32 PM
- Kirsten Lynn said...
Matthew Macfadyen in MI-5 is a favorite fictional spy. And I loved the look into the British spy world.
Daniel Craig is fast becoming my favorite Bond, and fictional spy. Although, I do love Austin Powers (and quote the movies more than I should). :o)
Joan, Your new book sounds fabulous. I love spy stories, and will definitely be picking a copy of CLAIMED BY THE SPYMASTER.
- August 22, 2011 at 8:13 AM
- Tara said...
Thanks, Kirsten. I've never seen MI-5...I'll need to add that to my Netflix cue.
I think Daniel Craig is a terrific Bond...Pierce Brosnan was good and certainly eye-candy, but I didn't feel he had the intensity for the role, and unlike Roger Moore, he doesn't have a tongue-in-cheek quality to offset that lack of intensity.
- August 22, 2011 at 9:35 AM
- Beth Caudill said...
I love spies. Burn Notice on USA has become my favorite spy show.
My first love of spies came from reruns of The Man from U N C L E. David McCallum (Ducky on NCIS) starred in many of my teenage dreams.
- August 22, 2011 at 10:36 AM
- Tara said...
Burn Notice looks intriguing, and of course, Man from Uncle is a classic!
- August 27, 2011 at 1:05 AM


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The 90/10 Rule: Raising Kids without Raising Your Voice
How to have a great relationship with a teenager.
How to have a great relationship with a teenager.
(2) Kimber Brown, August 6, 2008 11:05 AM
Teenage years can be great
Be a good example. Use the 90/10 rule with everyone including your spouse, work relationships and young children. You can't expect your teen to forget all the negativity that you expressed in the time prior to discovering the 90/10 rule. Have some fun and show your kids that you are human and like to have fun and laugh a lot. If I only had three words that I could tell you it would be "laugh a lot". Not only does it releases endorphines that regulate your blood sugar and blood pressure, you just plain feel better and then you will be nicer to everyone including your teenager.
(1) Anonymous, February 24, 2008 9:52 AM
Teenagers opinion
I am currently a teenager from a Modern Orthodox home. I just wanted to write to the parents watching this that I really agree with that advice and I think that my relationship with my father would also be much better if he followed the 90/10 rule and substituted some of our conversations with the advice she gave.
For teenagers, I think sometimes you have to realize what your parents do that you don't appreciate and look past what they are remiss from saying. Even though that's not always so easy in the moment.
Most Popular In Family


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Prison Books Collective needs a new home ASAP!
UPDATE: As of April 2016, we have moved into a new place in Durham (renting a room from Recyclique). We are currently paying more in rent than we can comfortably afford, so we might look for a new, less expensive place in 2017. Let us know if you have any leads (prisonbooks (at) gmail)!
We're an all-volunteer, non-profit based out of Carrboro, NC. Since 2006, we've been sending thousands of books to NC and Alabama. We are in need of a new home in the Triangle!! Please help. In March, we lose our current space, where we've been since 2012.
A brief description of our needs: a space to store our books, space to store folding tables and chairs, space for letters and office supplies, and room to have at least one weekly workday with 5-10 volunteers. We used to be in a 1.5 car garage, so we can have as small a space as that. We need a space that's open and accessible to volunteers, that has parking and access to a bathroom, along with electricity (ideally heat and AC).
One idea is to share space with a church or non-profit. We can't afford rent at this point, although might be able to afford a small monthly donation to offset costs or trade work for space.
If you have any contacts with any groups that have space they can share with us, or if you have a space we can use, let us know!! Email us at prisonbooks (at) gmail (dot) com or post on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/prisonbookscollective/
What are our basic needs?
- Shelves for books along one or more walls (our current shelves are about 18 feet across, by 8 feet high)
- Climate controlled space without humidity problems and with heat. Ideally AC, but we can deal without. (We've worked for years out of garage-like spaces but climate control helps protect books and keep volunteers comfortable)
- Access to a bathroom (it can be in an adjacent building, as long as it's open to volunteers)
- Space for a file cabinet for storing zine masters, and letters
- Space for 2-3 folding tables and 10-12 folding chairs to be stored
- Weekly use of the space for a 3 hours session (We've always had our workdays on Sunday afternoons, but we can shift if needed.)
- Parking: about 5 cars, plus occasionally more when we have a group
- Occasional collective meetings in the space
- The ability to share the address of the space with the public when we advertise our volunteer workdays via our website, fliers and Facebook, etc.
Our wishes:
- Occasional access to the space for collective members on non-workdays, to drop off supplies, pick up packages to mail, pick up book donations, sort and shelve books, staple zines, take inventory
- Ability to receive mailed boxes of books (we occasionally get book donations from publishers, and they mail us the books. They can be sent to the home of a group member, but it would be nice if they could be sent to our space)
- Occasional book sales (about 2-4 times/year). This would involve: The week prior, storing boxes of books in the space. The day before, setting up. The day of, taking over the space we use for the workday (or another space, if our new home has a different space in mind)
- Being able to host fundraisers. We had a comedy show once. Maybe bingo
- Group nights (we sometimes have larger groups want to volunteer with us, and we'd like the option to host them on a different day than our regular workday)
Please share this post with others in your network, let us know if you have ideas for a space (prisonbooks (at) gmail(dot)com). And if you're able, we'd appreciate a donation to offset costs of the move (and our weekly postage expenses to mail books!).


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Tagged: cvr
CVR 2017 Recap: I Want To Buy Everything
One of my favorite events last year was the first ever Consumer Virtual Reality convention in Vancouver, BC. I'm a little discouraged by all the conventions I miss out on in LA and San Francisco, so I was overjoyed to be able to attend one in my own town (why are 'virtual' virtual reality conventions a thing yet). This year I bought tickets as soon as they appeared, but a year ago I never even imagined that I would be helping run a booth at the event with the Vancouver VR Community.
The Vancouver VR Community is a recent organization designed to connect and showcase the amazing work that's being done by local developers. Since joining, I've been surprised to find out that some of my favorite VR games were made on Victoria island, or in leaky condos and basement rentals in town. It's really cool to be able talk with all these passionate people that are shaping the future of so many industries.
When I wasn't at the booth waving around a foam-board cut-out of our deer logo, I was on the floor looking for the latest software and tools. The event organizers did a great job in bringing a huge variety of experiences and applications to the show floor, but unsurprisingly I gravitated to the games.
I got to try out 'Edge of Atlantis,' which is a rogue-like/diablo style action RPG which is currently running a kickstarter campaign, as well as 'Kung Fu Shadow Fist,' which is a first person Streets of Rage game in which you are pretty much always punching distance from something if you so choose. I also got to be a Tiger and fight my friend (also a Tiger) in 'Tooth and Claw' and solve clever physics based puzzles in 'Awaken'. I got to check out 'Manastorm,' which is a card-based combat game that satisfies the imagination of any MTG, Yugioh or Hearthstone player. To my surprise, 'Chroma Lab' and 'Chocolate' were on the floor being represented by TH-er, whom seem to have amazing plans to bring what is basically an art gallery of wondrous exhibits that would be impossible to experience in real life.
I'm sad I didn't get to try out all the titles ('Vindicta' looks like a ton of fun) but the convention definitely put a ton of great work on my radar. It is so fulfilling to see these developers showcase their work, get feedback, and ultimately bring people into the worlds they have been crafting for months. I really enjoyed seeing all the children gush with enthusiasm about 'LlamaZOO's' app on canine anatomy or about the staggering variety of creature mutations in 'Mutato Match.' Overall, this is the kind of thing the industry needs more of: putting the future into the hands of everyone, and enriching their lives with experiences they could not have in real life. Here's looking forward to 2018!


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It's rare that I buy "new" things, because they're a drudge on the planet and there are usually more than enough leftover secondhand things to stem any urge I might have for shrink-wrapped goods.
But I picked up a new mini keyboard yesterday, at the rough cost of US$30 at a brand-name electronics shop, mostly because it fit the physical dimensions I wanted, and also because, as some people have noted, having an external keyboard is a useful troubleshooting tool.
The context (or should I say reason? or rationale?) was the Inspiron 600m, which I have trundled out of the closet and set up on the desk next to the Thinkpad, while it continues in its role as torrent slave and network storage point. I have no real aspirations for the machine, mostly because it has a long history of hardware errors and one or two current problems that I have no desire to monkey with.
One of those is a row of faulty keys — an issue I circumvent with a little ssh and a whole lot of patience. Lately though, it's been clear that I would gain a little more use of the machine if I were to actually break down and buy a proper external keyboard.
When I finally buckled, I made one stipulation: Any keyboard I bought would have to sit neatly on the palmrest, so as to not take up any more desktop space. One of the reasons I don't deal in desktops (aside from shunting them off to new owners) is because they are large and bulky, and that offends my sense of minimalism.
So I measured the palmrest and took those dimensions to the recycling shop, and dug around in a junk bin for a while. The smallest one there would have hung over the edge by about 4 centimeters, and looked like it had been used to wash a dog. So rather than go the secondhand route, I checked a big-name electronics shop in my area, and found this:
That's a Sanwa SKB-SL10BK, an 83-key Japanese keyboard with USB (and PS/2 overplug) connection, measuring a whopping 225mm x 99mm x 23.5mm. (That's about 8.9in x 3.9in x 0.9in, for those who need that measuring system.) As you can see, it's no more obtrusive than an A4-size business envelope, and best of all, doesn't require extra desk space for a machine that's already something of a curmudgeon.
As far as typing goes, it's a bit cramped, but I'm not going to be writing any epic poetry on this thing, so I have no complaints about that. Keys feel good, and I doubt the size makes it any more unusable than the netbooks I saw on sale in the same shop.
And this might be dumb, but now I have the opportunity to use a Japanese keyboard on a machine that only has a US keymap. Bonus.
I still use ssh to manhandle the machine, just because it's easier to swap terminal windows with a keypress than it is to wriggle around in my chair and bring myself to bear on a separate screen, hunt down the mouse, open a terminal emulator and type in the same command. I am still a slave to convenience.
But this makes things a little easier, if I need to do something directly and quickly. That's not always, but it is sometimes.


text: Show Hide image Culture 29 November 2012 Snack addicts "I am getting divorced and all I want to eat is peanut butter." Sign-up The Essay BBC Radio 3 A series of The Essay – Radio 3's routinely excellent and varied late-night monologues – praised American food (19-23 November, 10.45pm). Joyce Maynard spoke about the Wampanoags offering popcorn at the first Thanksgiving. Her reason for loving the snack so much – "It's healthy and low in calories and delicious" – sounded as good as any but when she started dissing bags full of sugary matter "popped at some unknown location", she sounded a little high and mighty. "Movie food", she called it, thinly, preferring salt on hers when watching a DVD while her daughter sprinkles on brewer's yeast. Remind me to go watch Paranormal Activity 4 elsewhere. Popcorn, she pointed out correctly, is best for election nights and break-ups. Times, I took her as meaning, when, like Prospero, "Every third thought shall be my grave." (But it must always, surely, be sweet and contain, as you get to the bottom of the bag, such an increasing number of those stone-hard kernels that refuse like a bad mussel to put out that you begin to feel short-changed.) Another episode opened with the line: "I am getting divorced and all I want to eat is peanut butter." Alice Sebold recalled a 1960s childhood spent eating Skippy from the jar. "Three thousand two hundred calories and 238 grammes of fat," she sighed. "That's a lot of cheek and jowl." Divorce, she explained, now represents to her not just the tragic dissolution of love but the end of her happy relationship with peanut butter: a post-separation diet of nothing but Peter Pan spread on to rice crackers followed by a trickle of heavy cream ("divorce shopping at its best") completely did her in; the shame got too much. Which reminded me of a recent trip to the Selfridges food hall with my 12-year-old godson, Max, who usually lives in New Jersey. Fresh out of a screening of Skyfall in which Max was gobsmacked by the dark and savoury simplicity of Daniel Craig's waxed jacket in the scenes set in Scotland, he was suddenly in no mood to embrace his Garden State heritage and hurried me – red-faced – along the "American aisle" piled high with Lucky Charms, Cap'n Crunch, Marshmallow Fluff, Aunt Jemima pancake mix and Duncan Hines frosting, in search of something he felt he could feasibly call cool. In front of the Ass Kickin' Original Hot Sauce, he nodded; "Thank God." Antonia Quirke is an author and journalist. She presents The Film Programme on BBC Radio 4. She writes a column on radio for the New Statesman. Subscribe For more great writing from our award-winning journalists subscribe for just £1 per month! This article first appeared in the 03 December 2012 issue of the New Statesman, The family in peril SUBSCRIBE More


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Tennis Fans,
Want to elevate your tennis to the next level in one week? Join me and a group of your fellow
Laney tennis friends at the Brady Tennis Camp in sunny Santa Barbara from 7/30 - 8/3.
It will be week of drills and instruction that will help every aspect of your game from groundies,
serves, net game, offensive/defensive tactics, and even trick shots (i know you want learn…
Hi Stanford, my name is Lily. I'm a 3.0 tennis player and the organizer for the Alameda tennis group. Are there any tennis players that would be interested and be available to join me and my tennis group to play tennis at Washington Park in Alameda every Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30pm to 10:45pm? Please let me know. Thanks. Lily---(510) 332-7398 (cell)
Heads up to all of you that live or work on Alameda.
Isis just started a new group for your town:
Join it and help it grow.
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Instead of heading over to the UK to find a good web designer to handle your design projects go online now and find an online web design Manchester, UK service. UK designers are equipped to create ecommerce web sites with shopping carts. The services can design your web pages and create simple or complex solutions to give you the best options in design. Designers in the online web design Manchester companies' focus on security when they are building your ecommerce web sites to ensure that when customers use your web sites that their information is safe. The secure sites are designed also to give you ways to accept credit cards.When you have an ecommerce web site built by one of the online web design Manchester services, you are giving the option to choose your method of accepting payments from your web site. The designers will consider CCNOW, PayPal, Yahoo Direct Pay, Clickbank, and other options and work hard to ensure that you get the payment method you choose for your ecommerce web site. Payment systems are great tools that designers focus on in the online web design Manchester, UK services. The designers know the importance of giving your customers ways to place orders, and to pay for products online. In addition, the designers know how valuable it is for you to be able to sell your products on the Internet, thus the designers will look for options to help you out.When the designers start building your ecommerce web site they will also focus on form pages. They know that customers need means to fill out forms to enquiry product information and so forth. While this is only the half of building ecommerce web sites, it is one of the most important parts of designing that the expert designers consider at the online web design Manchester services.
Most people feel threatened by building their own web site because the codes and scripts in the programming aspects of design scare them away. Most of these people though do not have lots of money to spend on a single web site so they wait, wait, and wait until that day comes that they do have the money to hire someone to build their web site for them. You don't have to wait any longer, since the online web design Manchester services are making it easier for people to get their web site design the most cost effective way.The online web design Manchester services are also designing with style in mind. Now you can get the web design you desire for half the cost. There is no better solution in design than having affordable and expert services combined to get you what you want. If you are ready to start building a web site now is the time to find an online web design Manchester service on the Internet. Even if you don't want an ecommerce web site, you have the choice of basic designs open to you with the UK web design services.


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Various types of roller bearings are used in the Vespa's engine: Thrust bearings, Tapered roller bearings and needle roller bearings. We refer to them collectively as engine bearings. They all possess minimal friction values and therefore produce little heat, require less lubrication and are virtually maintenance-free. The only thing that can shorten their life-span are contamination, a heavier than average work-load or a lack of adequate lubrication with a suitable oil. The stronger the state of tune or the higher the mileage a motor has achieved, the more frequently the engine bearings require replacement. We recommend engine bearing renewal during every major engine service or 10000 km (6250 mls.)
Most of the engine bearings we have available are original PIAGGIO items and in order to extend the range , we also have most types of bearings available, that we buy directly by the various manufacutrers.
SIP-TIP : Do not forget to order new crankshaft oil seals and gasket set when replacing the bearings of your Vespa's engine. For a quicker and more professional job there are also specialist tools available specifically for this purpose.
High quality bearing incl. bearing shell for a perfect motor update!
OEM Numbers (for the purpose of comparison)


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Clash of Clans Bases
List of Clash of clans bases
Select Town hall level: All
Let's collect the biggest Clash of Clans base collection! Please, upload screenshots of the bases you
have collected and want to share with others.
Note! Upload only the bases which can be copied - traps and other hidden buildings must be seen!
Select Town hall level: All


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Wavee.com Settles with the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection
ATLANTA, GA – John Sours, Administrator of The Governor's Office of Consumer Protection ("OCP"), today announced that the agency has entered into a settlement with Wavee US, LLC D/B/A Wavee.com ("Wavee"), a company that conducted "penny auctions" via its website. The settlement follows an OCP investigation which revealed that the auction company failed to send a number of purchased products to consumers in a timely manner and failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose that consumers were purchasing bid credits when they registered on Wavee's website.
Under the settlement, Wavee is required to cease operations, provide $202,210.20 in consumer restitution, and pay a $35,000 civil penalty and $15,000 in administrative expenses.
As part of the settlement, Wavee will also pay $50,000 to the State to establish a trust account for issuing refunds to eligible consumers who unintentionally purchased bid credits from Wavee. Consumers who believe they may be entitled to compensation under the settlement can fill out a claim form and submit it to OCP, along with supporting documentation. Claim forms must be post-marked no later than midnight on August 30, 2011 in order to be considered for restitution.
In order to be eligible for restitution, the claim must meet the following requirements:
- The claim must involve a consumer transaction with Wavee;
- The claim must be a consumer complaint relating to the unintentional purchase of bid credits;
- The consumer must have documentation showing that he or she did not intend to purchase bid credits. Acceptable documentation for these claims includes, but is not limited to copies of complaints submitted to Wavee, to the Better Business Bureau, to any governing body (e.g. any attorney general's office, OCP, local elected officials, etc.), and e-mails or letters to credit card companies disputing the charge(s) prior to July 1, 2011; and
- The consumer must not have received a previous refund from Wavee for his or her purchase of bid credits. OCP will retain a list of all consumers who have previously received a refund from Wavee.
Filing a Claim
You can download a claim form or you may request a form by calling 404-651-8600 or 800-869-1123 (in Georgia, outside the Atlanta Metro area).
Completed claims, along with supporting documentation, should be sent via U.S. Certified Mail to:
Governor's Office of Consumer Protection
Attn: Wavee.com Claims
2 Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. SE
Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334
Claims must be postmarked by August 30, 2011. Claims that are postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. After filing, your claim will be reviewed. If you are not eligible, you will be notified accordingly. If you are eligible, you will be mailed a check once all claims have been received and evaluated. If the claims received total more than the amount of the restitution funds, a proportionate amount will be distributed to all eligible claimants.


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Resource Consultants, Inc.
B-293073.3,B-293073.5,B-293073.6: Jun 2, 2004
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
Resource Consultants, Inc. (RCI) protests the award of a contract to Titan Corporation, Enterprise Services and Solutions Sector, by the Department of the Army under solicitation No. DASW01-03-R-0040, for desktop support services to the Army's Information Management Support Center. RCI argues that the Army's evaluation of Titan's revised price proposal was unreasonable.
We sustain the protest.
Resource Consultants, Inc., B-293073.3; B-293073.5; B-293073.6, June 2, 2004
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: Resource Consultants, Inc.
File: B-293073.3; B-293073.5; B-293073.6
John S. Pachter, Esq., Jonathan D. Shaffer, Esq., Sophia R. Zetterlund, Esq., Erin R. Karsman, Esq., and Richard C. Johnson, Esq., Smith Pachter McWhorter & Allen, for the protester.
Agnes P. Dover, Esq., Todd R. Overman, Esq., and Gary A. Campbell, Esq., Hogan & Hartson, an intervenor.
Robert L. Duecaster, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency.
Ralph O. White, Esq., and Christine S. Melody, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
Protester's contention that the awardee's final revised price effectively altered its technical approach, even though offerors were not allowed to make changes to their technical proposals, is sustained where the record shows that the awardee's final price proposal shifted the mix of personnel used to perform the contract, and significantly decreased the staffing it proposed to use for one type of work covered by the contract.
Resource Consultants, Inc. (RCI) protests the award of a contract to Titan Corporation, Enterprise Services and Solutions Sector, by the Department of the Army under solicitation No. DASW01-03-R-0040, for desktop support services to the Army's Information Management Support Center. RCI argues that the Army's evaluation of Titan's revised price proposal was unreasonable.
The RFP here was issued on May 23, 2003, and covered six separate lots of effort designed to consolidate desktop service support operations for approximately 80 agencies within Headquarters, Department of the Army. Lot I of the solicitation, the portion of the work at issue in this protest, contemplated a single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for desktop support services for a base period of 2 years, plus five 1-year options. RFP at 2.
The solicitation sought performance-based solutions to providing desktop support services to the Army, and requested that offerors submit fully-burdened hourly labor rates for their employees. The solicitation also stated that all task and delivery orders under the Lot I contract would be issued on either a fixed-price or time-and-materials (T&M) basis.
For reasons discussed in greater detail below, the particular pricing requirements of this solicitation--both as initially issued, and as ultimately amended--are relevant to this protest. Initially, offerors were required to submit five discrete components of price for the Lot I work (and for each of the option years within Lot I). These were:
(1) a fixed price for the work ( see , e.g. , CLIN 0001AA);
(2) a T&M price for the work (CLIN 0001AB);
(3) an amount for other direct costs associated with performing the work on a
fixed-price basis (CLIN 0001AC);
(4) an amount for general and administrative (G&A) costs to be added to
other direct costs associated with performing the work on a fixed-price basis
(CLIN 0001AD); and,
(5) a price for performing after-hours work on a fixed-price basis
RFP at 6-8. Because the solicitation's pricing schedule requested both fixed and T&M prices for the work, the total obtained by adding the prices submitted for each of these CLINs was roughly twice the total expected price for this effort.
The RFP advised potential offerors that award would be "based on a best value analysis" of three factors: management/technical, past performance, and cost/price. RFP amend. 3, at 6. The RFP also advised that the management/technical factor was more important than the past performance factor, and that management/technical and past performance combined were more important than cost/price. Id. at 9.
Seven proposals were received by the initial due date of June 23, 2003, and five of them were included in the competitive range. After discussions, and submission of final proposal revisions (FPR), the total prices, and overall technical ratings, for the offerors were as follows:
Overall Rating
Total Price
$202.8 million
$233.1 million
Offeror A
Very Good
$540.7 million
Offeror B
Very Good
$187.7 million
Offeror C
Very Good
$168.9 million
Contracting Officer's (CO) Statement at 3. Based on these results, the agency awarded a contract to RCI on September 30, 2003, after concluding that the benefits of the RCI proposal justified paying a cost premium over the price proposed by Offerors B and C, in their slightly lower-rated proposals. Agency Report (AR), Tab 13, at 3.
After the initial award to RCI was challenged in two protests--one filed with the agency, and one filed with our Office--the Army decided to take corrective action to clarify conflicting information in the solicitation about the number of users to be supported by this contract. [1] The agency also agreed to request revised price proposals from the five offerors in the competitive range, and make a new selection decision. CO's Statement, supra .
In its request for revised price proposals, the agency advised offerors to base their proposals on an estimate of 7,000 customers for the base period, with an estimated growth in customers of 5 percent per year, for each of the 5 option years. RFP amend. 5, at 2. Offerors were also directed to use 2,080 hours per staff year for their proposals, and to plan to provide customer support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. In addition, the offerors were asked to submit five separate prices for the work, as follows:
(1) a fixed price for performing all the work on-site;
(2) a fixed price for providing all the work off-site;
(3) a T&M price for providing all the work on-site;
(4) a T&M price for providing all the work off-site; and
(5) a fixed price for work performed after regular hours.
Id. In this regard, the amendment expressly advised that the total price would be determined by adding the amount offered for each of the five categories identified above. Id. Thus, the total prices proposed were roughly four times the total expected price for this effort (plus any amount for after-hours work). Finally, the amendment advised:
The purpose of this amendment is to request revised price/cost proposals for Lot I (desktop support services) from those offerors for Lot 1 that are in the competitive range, and not for requesting revised technical proposals for Lot 1. Technical discussions will not be conducted.
The agency received revised price proposals from each offeror in the competitive range by the December 8, 2003 closing date. As the agency did not receive revised technical proposals, it made no revisions to the technical ratings used in the initial selection decision. Thus, as before, both RCI's and Titan's technical proposals were rated excellent. The prices proposed by the two offerors were, however, changed significantly--Titan's total price fell from233.1 million to $217.3 million, while RCI's total price increased from $202.8 million to $239.3 million.
The record shows that RCI and Titan took different approaches to preparing and submitting their final revised prices, and these differences are material to the current dispute. RCI provided no narrative whatsoever with its final submission, and instead submitted a series of pricing tables showing the number of hours by labor category, the fully-burdened labor rates, and the resulting totals for performing the work on a fixed-price basis on-site, a fixed-price basis off-site, a T&M basis on-site, and a T&M basis off-site. AR, Tab 21. Within these tables, the fully-burdened labor rates for each labor category varied depending on whether the work was priced on a fixed-price or T&M basis, and on whether the work was being performed on- or off-site. Although RCI's final prices are based on using fewer labor hours than it used prior to the time the Army reduced the estimated number of users to be supported, the relative mix of experienced versus inexperienced personnel remained essentially the same. Compare AR, Tab 11B (RCI's final price proposal prior to corrective action) with AR, Tab 21 (RCI's final price proposal in the reopened competition). In addition, the number of labor hours used to generate its final revised price is the same under each of the four pricing approaches. AR, Tab 21.
In contrast, Titan's final submission begins with an 8-page narrative that purports to explain the changes to its previously submitted price proposals. For example, Titan displays two staffing profiles--analagous to RCI's display of the number of hours by labor category--showing different approaches to staffing work based on whether the work will be performed on-site or off-site. AR, Tab 22, at 3. Titan explains that its new staffing profiles are based on "another detailed analysis of the requirements, using the reduced number of users required by the Government for bidding purposes." Id. at 4. Following the narrative, Titan provides pricing tables showing, as did RCI, the number of hours by labor category, the fully-burdened labor rates, and the resulting totals for performing the work under each of the four pricing approaches requested by the agency. Id. at 9-32. Within these tables, the fully-burdened labor rates for each labor category appear to be the same under all four of the pricing approaches. However, the relative mix of experienced versus inexperienced personnel was significantly changed from the proposals submitted prior to the time the Army reduced the estimated number of users to be supported. Compare AR, Tab 11A (Titan's final price proposal prior to corrective action) with AR, Tab 22 (Titan's final price proposal in the reopened competition). In addition, as indicated in its narrative, Titan proposed to perform off-site work (on both a fixed-price and T&M basis) with significantly fewer full time equivalent (FTE) personnel than used in its earlier proposals, and with significantly fewer FTEs than it proposed for on-site work in its final offer here. Id.
A summary of the results of the reopened competition, with the total prices and technical ratings (unchanged from the earlier evaluation), is set forth below:
Overall Rating
Total Price
$217.3 million
$239.3 million
Offeror A
Very Good
$396.3 million
Offeror B
Very Good
$200.5 million
Offeror C
Very Good
$270.1 million
CO's Statement at 4-5. Given these results, the agency selected Titan for award after concluding that the benefits of the Titan proposal justified paying a cost premium over the price proposed by Offeror B, and concluding that there was no basis upon which to justify paying the higher price associated with RCI's proposal. AR, Tab 24, at 9-10.
On February 13, 2004, the agency advised RCI that it was awarding to Titan. This protest followed.
Although RCI initially raised a series of general contentions--including that the agency failed to perform a proper price analysis of Titan's final revised price proposal--its initial general complaints have been supplemented with a series of specific complaints about the way in which Titan lowered its price for this work. In this regard, RCI argues that Titan's final revised price [2] effectively altered its technical approach by: (1) shifting the mix of personnel used to perform the contract; (2) significantly decreasing the number of FTEs used to perform off-site work; and (3) disproportionately decreasing the number of FTEs in the option years. RCI argues that Titan should have been disqualified due to these changes, or alternately, that the agency should have recognized that these changes were so significant that the previous technical evaluation no longer accurately reflects Titan's offer. Finally, RCI argues that certain changes in Titan's price proposal suggest a procurement integrity violation-- i.e. , that Titan must have received inside information about RCI's proposal--that should have led the agency to reject Titan's proposal.
In answer, the Army and Titan argue that the requirement for a review of price realism was met by comparing the proposed prices received in the competition. With respect to the more specific allegations regarding Titan's price reduction, both point out that there was nothing in the agency's request for revised prices that prohibited reductions in the number of hours proposed in any labor category, in the number of senior staff offered, in an offeror's hourly rates, in profit levels, or in any other component of an offeror's total price. Instead, the agency argues that Titan was simply making the adjustments expected to reflect the changes associated with a reduction in the number of users from 10,000 to 7,000. [3] Finally, both the Army and Titan deny that Titan improperly received information about RCI's proposal, and both argue that none of RCI's allegations supports a conclusion that such a violation occurred.
Before turning to the specifics of this protest, we note as a preliminary matter that the decrease in anticipated computer users that will be supported by this contract complicates this dispute. As indicated above, the solicitation as initially issued was ambiguous about the number of users to be supported by the contract; the solicitation provided support for estimates of both 10,000 and 12,000 users. In revising the solicitation, the Army reduced its estimate of users to 7,000. As a result of this reduction in estimated users, it was clearly appropriate for offerors to reduce their staffing (and hence their prices) in response to the reduction. Nonetheless, while the estimate reduction is a complicating factor for some areas of this discussion, there are certain areas of Titan's proposal where its reductions appear unrelated to the Army's reduction in estimated users.
With respect to RCI's general contention that the Army failed to perform a proper price analysis here, we disagree. The agency explains that it compared the proposed prices to each other and to the government estimate of the cost for this work, and compared the proposed labor rates to the rates contained in existing contracts for the same work. The several approaches used by the agency are consistent with the price analysis techniques identified at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Section 15.404-1(b). In addition, absent specific requirements in the solicitation imposing additional requirements, the nature and extent of an agency's price analysis are matters within the agency's discretion. See AllWorld Language Consultants, Inc. , B-291409, B-291409.2, Dec. 16, 2002, 2003 CPD Paragraph 13 at 2 (fixed-price contracts); Resource Consultants, Inc. , B-290163, B-290163.2, June 7, 2002, 2002 CPD Paragraph 94 at 3 n.1 (T&M contracts). Our review provides no basis for questioning the adequacy of the agency's price analysis.
We turn next to the heart of RCI's complaint--that Titan's final revised price effectively altered its technical approach, even though Titan did not submit a revised technical proposal. It is a fundamental principle of competitive procurement that offerors be provided with a common basis for the submission and evaluation of proposals. Pasco Realty , B-245705, Jan. 8, 1992, 92-1 CPD Paragraph 39 at 5. To the extent that the agency allowed Titan to submit a revised price that effectively altered its underlying technical proposal--without allowing any other offeror to do so--the agency abandoned one of the stated ground rules of the reopened competition, to the prejudice of RCI and other offerors who were not given a similar opportunity. See DynaLantic Corp. , B-234035, May 3, 1989, 89-1 CPD Paragraph 421 at 3-4, recon. denied , MicroSim Inc.--Recon. , B-234035.2, B-234035.3, Oct. 11, 1989, 89-2 CPD Paragraph 336; Emerson Elec. Co. , B-213382, Feb. 23, 1984, 84-1 CPD Paragraph 233 at 4. Based on our review, we agree with RCI's contentions. For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that Titan's final revised price was based on calculations of staffing costs that were so materially inconsistent with its previously identified (and evaluated) technical approach that the agency was required to take steps to rectify the situation.
As a starting point--and as a baseline for this discussion--the record shows that prior to the Army's corrective action in this case, Titan's price was based on performing this effort using [deleted] FTEs in the base period of performance, dropping to [deleted] FTEs by the last option year. AR, Tab 11A, at 5. In the reopened competition, Titan reduced its FTEs for on-site performance in the base year by approximately 28 percent, to [deleted] FTEs (commensurate with a 30 percent reduction in estimated users). AR, Tab 22, at 3. By the final option year, though, the number of FTEs dropped approximately 43 percent from the earlier proposed level, to [deleted]. Id. Although we recognize that Titan has accelerated its reduction of FTEs over the life of the contract--and we acknowledge RCI's complaints about this approach--we think this reduction alone could be viewed as a de minimis departure from the 30 percent reduction one would anticipate given the agency's change to its estimate of users. [4]
More troubling, however, are Titan's changes to the mix of employees it offered, and the difference between the number of FTEs proposed to perform off-site work, as opposed to the on-site work. With respect to the mix of employees, our review shows that prior to the Army's corrective action, Titan offered a significantly more experienced (and hence more expensive) mix of staffing than the mix it proposed after the corrective action.
For example, when one examines the number of FTEs identified in Titan's five most expensive labor categories [5] (other than the program manager category, which is the same in both versions of the Titan proposal, and other than the two categories in which Titan offers [deleted] FTEs), versus the number of FTEs identified in its five least expensive labor categories, [6] the difference between the staffing used to calculate Titan's earlier price and its final revised price is stark. Specifically, out of [deleted] total FTEs in Titan's earlier offer, [deleted] were in the five highest-priced labor categories, while [deleted] were in the five lowest-priced labor categories. A proportional 30 percent cut to these numbers yields approximately [deleted] FTEs overall, with roughly [deleted] FTEs in the five highest-priced labor categories, and [deleted] FTEs in the lowest-priced labor categories. [7] Instead, out of [deleted] total FTEs, Titan's final revised price was based on [deleted] FTEs in the five highest-priced categories, and [deleted] FTEs in the five lowest-priced categories. See AR, Tabs 7, 11E, and 22. Indeed, as RCI points out, in Titan's lowest-priced labor category, [deleted], Titan increased the number of FTEs from [deleted] to [deleted], while making a 28 to 43 percent cut in the total FTEs offered. Id. This significant shift in the mix of FTEs essentially reflects a reversal in approach for Titan--from one based on using a greater proportion of higher-priced labor categories (reflecting higher levels of experience and expertise) relative to lower-priced labor categories (reflecting less experience and expertise) to an approach using a greater proportion of lower-priced categories. In our view, this shift leads inescapably to a conclusion that Titan has changed its technical approach to performing this effort.
We are also troubled by Titan's use of a different number of FTEs to price the off-site work than it used to price the on-site work. As discussed above, the solicitation here, as initially issued, did not require offerors to submit separate prices for performing this work off-site versus on-site. Instead, offerors were required only to provide a price for performing the work on a fixed-price basis and on a T&M basis. In the earlier competition, both RCI and Titan used the same staffing approach-- i.e. , their respective approaches--to generate both of these prices. Neither company prepared a separate staffing approach applicable to only one of these prices.
In the reopened competition, Titan--for the first time--developed a separate and unique staffing approach applicable only to its fixed and T&M prices for performing the work off-site. We need not set forth a detailed analysis of this separate staffing approach, as it appears that there is no dispute between the parties that this approach was significantly leaner than the staffing approach Titan used for the on-site work, and significantly different from the staffing approach Titan offered in the initial competition--and upon which its technical evaluation was based. Again, we conclude that Titan has changed its technical approach to performing this effort when performance will occur off-site.
Before leaving this topic, we recognize that the agency and Titan argue that since this was a performance-based procurement the agency was evaluating technical solutions, not staffing levels. They also point out, correctly, that there was no requirement for any particular staffing approach, and that this means the changes made by Titan in response to the reopened competition should not be seen as affecting the nature of Titan's performance-based offer. We cannot agree with this assertion. The solicitation's evaluation scheme contained a management/technical evaluation factor which was supposed to include a review of the evidence of an offeror's technical proficiency. RFP amend. 3, at 6. In addition the final memorandum of the source selection evaluation board (SSEB)--which was based on Titan's earlier technical proposal, since revised technical proposals were not submitted here--expressed the view that Titan's approach allowed "[reduced] staffing levels in the out years while maintaining a highly skilled technical staff." AR, Tab 23, at 25. Given the changes Titan made to the mix of technical staff in its final FRP, we are not sure this observation remains valid for this proposal.
In our view, the situation here is similar to the situation we encountered in DynaLantic Corp. , supra . In DynaLantic , after originally making award, but then finding it necessary to terminate that contract for default, an agency requested an additional round of best and final offers (BAFO) from the remaining offerors, limiting them to price and delivery schedule revisions. The successful offeror in the recompetition included in its revised BAFO a list of six changes which allowed it to reduce its earlier price by 48 percent. In our decision, we concluded that the awardee's reduced price, in fact, reflected changes to its technical proposal, contrary to the ground rules established for the submission of revised BAFOs.
Here, we think Titan has essentially done the same thing. In changing the staffing mix of labor categories overall, and in offering a completely different staffing approach for off-site work, Titan did not follow the ground rules set by the agency in this reopened competition. As a result, offerors that followed the agency's instructions were placed at a disadvantage, and did not have the same opportunity to achieve the price reduction Titan was able to achieve.
We turn last to RCI's allegation that certain of the changes made to Titan's final revised prices suggest that a procurement integrity violation has occurred during this competition. These changes include: (1) Titan's decision to segregate, for the first time in its FRP, the base contract into two base periods, which RCI did in all its proposals; (2) Titan's suggestion that all its work be performed on-site, which suggests--in RCI's view--that Titan may have known that RCI had an advantage in
off-site overhead rates; and (3) Titan's decision to significantly decrease the number of FTEs in its option years, which--again, in RCI's view--suggests that Titan may have known that both companies proposed similar decreases for the option years in their earlier proposals.
In response, the agency argues that RCI's unsupported contentions do not demonstrate that such a violation occurred here. We agree. Without more concrete evidence that the integrity of this procurement has been compromised, we will not reach such a conclusion based only on these changes to Titan's proposal.
We sustain RCI's protest in light of our conclusion that Titan's final price proposal effectively changed its technical approach to performing this effort, even though offerors were not allowed to make changes to their technical proposals. As a result, we recommend that the agency reopen this competition and request revised technical proposals and prices from all offerors in the competitive range. If Titan is not the successful offeror based on the evaluation of the revised offers, its contract should be terminated for the convenience of the government, and award made to the offeror whose proposal provides the best value to the government. Alternatively, and in the event that the agency wants to proceed based on the results of the previously reopened competition, we think the agency has no choice but to reject Titan's offer, and make a new selection decision based on the remaining offers in the competitive range. We also recommend that RCI be reimbursed the costs associated with filing and pursuing its bid protest, including reasonable attorneys' fees. 4 C.F.R. Section 21.8 (d)(1) (2004). RCI should submit its certified claim, detailing the time spent and the costs incurred, directly to the agency within 60 days of receiving our decision. 4 C.F.R.Section 21.8 (f)(1).
The protest is sustained.
Anthony H. Gamboa
General Counsel
[1] The record shows that in some places the solicitation advised that 10,000 users would be supported (RFP, Performance Work Statement, at 3), while at other places, the solicitation advised that as many as 12,000 users would be supported (RFP amend. 2, questions 21, 108, 113).
[2] Since, in the course of this procurement, the agency twice called for FPRs--once prior to the corrective action, once in the reopened competition--and since this protest requires a comparison of the prices of those FPRs, for ease of reference, we will refer to Titan's earlier price and its final revised price. Any reference to Titan's earlier price, however, will be a reference to its first FPR price, not the initial offer price in that earlier stage of the competition.
[3] Although the Army argued that Titan's proposal before corrective action was based on supporting 10,000 users (Agency Report, Mar. 31, 2004, at 3; Agency Supp. Report, Apr. 17, 2004, at 5), Titan has disputed this assertion. Specifically, during the course of this protest (Titan's Comments, Apr. 16, 2004, at 12), and in its Final Revised Cost Proposal (AR, Tab 22, at 2), Titan has represented that the earlier versions of its proposal were based upon an estimate of users higher than 10,000. We note for the record, however, that prior to the time the depth of its cuts was an issue-- i.e. , at the time of its agency-level protest, which led to the Army's decision to take corrective action to clarify its estimated number of users to be supported--Titan stated that it based its earlier proposals on an estimate of 10,000 users. AR, Tab 17, at 6-8 (Titan's Agency-Level Protest). In fact, Titan argued in that protest that to the extent other offerors did not propose to support 10,000 users, they "did not meet the material solicitation requirements and their proposals should be considered nonresponsive." Id. at 8. Now that the agency has amended the solicitation to advise that offerors should base their proposals on an estimate of 7,000 users, Titan's final proposal states that this represents "an approximate 44 [percent] reduction from the number of users assumed in Titan's original submission and our subsequent BAFO response." AR, Tab 22, at 4. The final proposal explained that this is the reason the number of FTEs in its final revised price proposal decreased approximately 48 percent overall. Id.
[4] In addition, we think the issue of the amount by which Titan reduced its FTEs (including Titan's accelerated reduction in FTEs in the option years) is clouded by the dispute over the number of Army users Titan thought it would need to support when it wrote its earlier proposals. In our view, this issue need not be definitely resolved in this protest since we conclude that Titan's shift in the mix of FTEs and its changed staffing for off-site work leads us to conclude that the company altered its technical approach.
[5] Our review indicates that the five most expensive labor categories for which Titan proposed FTEs, other than program manager, are: [deleted]. AR, Tab 7, app. C, Table C-5. We have used the price of the labor categories as an indicator of the experience and expertise required to be included in that category, although we recognize that the correlation may not be exact.
[6] Our review indicates that the five least expensive labor categories for which Titan proposed FTEs are: [deleted]. Id.
[7] For the record, we are not concluding that a straight 30 percent cut in staffing was required here. Rather, this sentence is included to provide insight into the depth of the cut Titan made, versus what one might have expected. It is the difference between the numbers that leads to our conclusion that Titan changed its technical proposal, not the fact that the cut was not 30 percent. As discussed above, we think that even Titan's 44 percent cut in FTEs in the last option year might not require a conclusion that the company was changing its technical approach.
Sep 23, 2020
Candor Solutions, LLC
We dismiss the protest because the protester's allegations are untimely.
Sep 22, 2020
Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Sep 17, 2020
Sep 16, 2020
Sumaria Systems, Inc.
We deny the protest.
We deny the protest.
Sep 15, 2020
CenturyLink QGS
We deny the protest.
Patronus Systems, Inc.
We sustain the protest.
Sep 11, 2020
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text:
Report: Dodge Dart, Others Miss the Mark in Consumer Reports Testing
The Big Three American automakers have been on a roll lately, releasing a slew of great new products. However, Consumer Reports suggests the latest sedans from Dodge, Lincoln, Cadillac, and Chevrolet may not be so great after all. The shopping guide announced today it will not recommend the 2013 Dodge Dart, 2013 Lincoln MKS, 2013 Cadillac XTS, and 2013 Chevrolet Spark after testing the four cars.
Consumer Reports admitted that the Dart had a lot of potential and that it is "the first decent compact from Dodge in decades." CR praised the quiet cabin, the lengthy option list, and the car's good handling. However, that was not enough for the Dart to make it onto CR's recommended list. According to CR, The standard 2.0-liter I-4 with a six-speed automatic feels underpowered, while the 1.4-liter turbo-four is unrefined and paired with a "poorly-shifting" six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. CR also took issue with the Dart's interior, finding the rear seat to be cramped and the front chairs "lumpy [with] uneven, uncomfortable cushioning."
Both the Lincoln and the Cadillac were outmatched by European and Asian rivals in CR's testing, but the two midsize luxury sedans took big hits because of their infotainment systems (MyLincoln Touch in the former, and CUE in the latter). Consumer Reports previously dinged both Ford and Lincoln for their capacitive button and touchscreen infotainment systems, but it also takes issue with the MKS' cramped cabin, poor visibility, and "ungainly" handling. The Cadillac, on the other hand, impressed with a luxurious and spacious interior and big trunk; however, the ride wasn't as "silky [as] you'd expect from a big Caddy, and although it handles well for its size, it doesn't have the finesse or brawn of the better German and Asian competitors." CR also spewed some vitriolic comments regarding the XTS' CUE infotainment system: "CUE stands for Cadillac User Experience…but the problem is that the 'C' can also stand for confusing, convoluted, and complicated."
Finally, the diminutive Chevrolet Spark faltered thanks to a slow engine, a "stiff, jittery ride," too-small seats, and overly loud cabin noise. CR quite liked the Spark's low price, high content, and good fuel economy, but would not recommend the tiny Chevy because there are too many other offerings in the subcompact and compact classes that offer as much content and as good fuel economy for not much more money.
We were not able to contact all of the manufacturers for comment at the time of publication; however, Chrysler has issued a statement saying: "Chrysler Group is pleased that Consumer Reports has found the 2013 Dodge Dart to be a "promising small sedan" and "earned praise from Consumer Reports" in a number of areas.
However, we are disappointed to discover that with up to 41 mpg highway fuel economy that in the eyes of Consumer Reports we did not strike the optimum balance between horsepower and fuel economy with our existing powertrains.
With the introduction of our 2.4-liter, 184 horsepower engine into the Dart during Q1 2013, we expect the above to improve."


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DJ AM's girlfriend Hayley Wood said Tuesday that it wasn't a break-up that caused the celebrity disc jockey's death -- and that she and AM, real name Adam Goldstein, were together when he passed away last week.
Wood, 22, denied reports that she and Goldstein had split, telling Usmagazine.com that she'd never broken up with Goldstein and that his death broke her heart.
"Any indication that this horribly tragic accident happened because of a rumored breakup is not only untrue but disgusting," Wood said.
U.S. & World
"We were very much together at the time of his passing, and I love him very much," she said.
Wood, a model, and Goldstein dated for nearly a year before Goldstein died of an apparent overdose at age 36 on Aug. 28. Rumors swirled several weeks before Goldstein's death that he and Wood had called it quits, and several media outlets speculated that the break-up was to blame for the death of Goldstein, an ex-drug addict who relapsed in 2008.
Goldstein's family searched Tuesday for a burial spot for the DJ, whose body arrived in Los Angeles and is now in the care of a local funeral parlor, E! Online reported.
The funeral will reportedly take place on Thursday, but Goldstein's family has yet to confirm or deny its time and location.
"The family just wants everything to be private," said funeral director Frank E. Campbell, the owner of the funeral home where Goldstein's body was held in New York City before it was transported to Los Angeles.
Goldstein was involved in a tragic 2008 plane crash, miraculously surviving the accident that also involved good friend and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
He was previously engaged to Nicole Richie, the celebrity daughter of musician Lionel Richie.


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Dir: Nobuo Mizuta. Japan. 2012. 111mins
A sentimental slice of mainstream Japanese comedy-drama, Tug of War! Will be reassuringly familiar for local audiences – women pulling together in the spirit of comradeship and glory – but unlikely to figure much internationally beyond Japan-orientated film festivals.
There are some engaging moments of humour but in the end Tug Of War! Is entirely predictable.
The film, which opens November 23 in Japan and had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, is gently enjoyable in a clichéd way, ticks all of the right boxes in terms of structure and pacing and in Mao Inoue has a star who has charm and energy to spare.
In a bid to save his city from a recession, the mayor of Oita city enlists Chiaki Nishikawa (Mao Inoue) from the city's public relations department to run a campaign to stimulate the local economy and bring vibrancy back to the town.
A one-time Olympic sport tug-of-war was once beloved in Oita where a male team had much success (the city in the past was won the tug-of-war world championship three times) but the mayor insists women from a threatened local catering co-operative take part if he is to consider saving their factory.
Inspired by a true story, Tug of War! is the "heart-warming tale" of how seven ordinary women band together to try and revitalise their local community, forming firm friendships along the way. Naturally enough they choose Chiaki (whose mother and aunt are part of the team) as their captain, but equally naturally there are fun and games, tears and tantrums and more then a little obvious entertainment as they learn how to pull together.
The film follows an all-too-familiar three-act arc, but is at least blessed with a nice variety of characters to develop amongst the women – shy one, overweight one, flirty one etc. – while Chiaki is lumbered with the subplot of being romanced by the genial chap assigned to trained the woman, who are rather patronisingly given the team name of "Tug Of War Babes".
There are some engaging moments of humour – like when they take on a junior school team for their first tournament – and a few melodramatic scenes (involving parents/children/partners) - but in the end Tug Of War! Is entirely predictable. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the film therefore lacks any real charm.
Production company: 'Tug-of-War Babes" Film Partners
International sales: Nippon Television Network, www.ntv.co.jp/
Producer: Nobuyuki Iinuma
Executive producer: Seiji Okuda
Screenplay: Daisuke Habara
Music: Taro Iwashiro
Website: http://www.tsunahiki.jp
Main cast: Mao Inoue, Keiko Matsuzaka, Tetsuji Tamayama, Yoko Asaji, Naomi Nishida, Sonim, Naomi Watanabe, Inuko Inuyama, Akiko Chubachi


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On Space Coast, Signs of Comeback After End of an Era
March 30, 2013
MELBOURNE, Fla. — The day after the shuttle Atlantis landed for the last time at the Kennedy Space Center on July 21, 2011, Angel Telles, a man with three master's degrees, scooped up his white Mission 101 coffee mug and drove away from NASA after 24 years on the job there. The shuttle era had ended, and with it the jobs of 8,000 NASA and civilian workers who found themselves unemployed in the midst of a harsh economic downturn and a crush of home foreclosures.
A diner at a restaurant in Titusville, Fla., which has been slower to recover jobs and housing than the rest of Brevard County.
So great was the blow to the state and NASA's traditional space program that it put politicians, including presidential candidates, on the defensive on the campaign trail.
"I mean, it was happening before our very eyeballs," said Mr. Telles, 50, whose most recent job at NASA was developing requirements for new vehicles, as he recalled his last day at the space center. "This is happening to me? Really? You are in shock."
"But then," he added, "you say, 'I am moving on.' "
He did, and finally, this month, Mr. Telles landed a well-paying engineering job with the Harris Corporation, an international telecommunications equipment company. His hiring is the latest sign that nearly two years after Brevard County was left staggering from the one-two punch of the downturn and the demise of the shuttle program, the Space Coast, while still struggling, has defied the bleak predictions.
Private employers on the Space Coast, which includes Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island, have created more than 4,000 jobs since 2010 and have added 1,000 more this year, including jobs in aerospace, aviation, engineering and other high-technology sectors. Companies like Embraer, which makes jets, Northrop Grumman and Rocket Crafters were among those that moved here or expanded. Small businesses are also opening at a faster clip. Housing prices are rising, and the pace of foreclosures is slowing in some areas.
The linchpin in Brevard's recovery was a plan to diversify beyond aerospace while maintaining its astronaut aura and capitalizing on its coveted labor force: well-trained, highly educated workers with security clearance who have demonstrated the ability to launch manned spacecraft into orbit.
"Everyone said we were going to get hit by a Category 5 storm — board up and get ready," said Robin Fisher, a Brevard County commissioner from Titusville, which has been slower to recover than the rest of the county. "After the national program shut down, there were a lot of reasons to fail. But we didn't."
The future after Atlantis was in many ways guided by the lessons of Apollo. More than four decades ago, this county was built on the gold rush that resulted from the Apollo program, back when astronauts were household names and Cocoa Beach was familiar to television viewers as the home of "I Dream of Jeannie." But in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon shut down the program, decimating the communities surrounding the Kennedy Space Center.
An estimated 18,000 jobs were lost in 18 months. Some residents walked away from their houses.
"The cancellation of Apollo was much more abrupt, and it was a lot bigger," said Dale Ketcham, who is in charge of strategic alliances for Space Florida, the state's port authority for space and its economic development engine. He grew up in Cocoa Beach and was headed to college at that time. "The economy was much less robust and diversified, so there really wasn't anything else to do."
This time around, local and state officials had years to plan for the end of the shuttle program, which was announced by President George W. Bush in 2004, after the Columbia shuttle disintegrated on re-entry. A scaled-down program called Constellation was begun, but that was canceled by President Obama after it, too, became expensive.
Despite the setbacks, Brevard kept one important project: the building of Orion, a multipurpose deep-space capsule. It was the first time the Kennedy Space Center moved from launching a craft to assembling one.
A few months after the shuttle program closed, Boeing stepped in, announcing it would establish a headquarters at the space center for its new spaceship program to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The program would create 550 jobs by 2015, a relatively small number, but one welcomed nonetheless by local and state officials.
The larger challenge was drafting a plan to diversify beyond the traditional parameters of government-run deep-space programs and finding a way to recoup the 8,000 lost jobs little by little.
But in the past three years, more companies have started to roll into Brevard. They have been enticed, in part, by government tax incentives sprinkled liberally across Florida to court business, a practice that has drawn some criticism.
"The problem in the past is that there was no plan of action," said Lynda Weatherman, the president of the Space Coast's Economic Development Commission. "It's as much a psychological promotion story as an economic one. It said there is a Chapter 2 in our lives. Part of the reason we got into this situation is because all we did was launch."
But, she cautioned, "We are not out of the woods yet."
Inside a state-of-the-art hangar at the Melbourne Airport, Embraer's sleek executive 10-seater jets are being assembled, outfitted and painted. Embraer, a Brazilian company that was voted a top firm to work for in the state by Florida Trend magazine, was courted by 20 states. It moved to Melbourne, a turning point for the area, and opened in February 2011.
One reason Embraer chose Melbourne was that it wanted the first chance at hiring laid-off shuttle workers. Forty of the employees working on its jets are former NASA contractors. Others came from an Air Force base nearby. Embraer recently announced it is building an engineering center here, too.
"We knew there would be very qualified people that would be valuable to us," said Gary Spulak, the president of Embraer Aircraft Holdings. He added that many of the workers already had experience with aircraft like Cessna, Piper and Gulfstream: "They were all using processes we hold in high regard."
The area has also seen an infusion of companies involved in suborbital spaceflight, like Rocket Crafters and Xcor Aerospace. Last month, Northrup said it planned to add 920 jobs to its aviation operation in the county.
Still, recovery is far from assured. The unemployment rate in Brevard was 8 percent in February, higher than Florida's average and the country's over all. About half of the laid-off shuttle workers have founds jobs here or somewhere else. The rest retired, moved away or were still looking for work, according to Lisa Rice, the president of Brevard Workforce, which helps them find jobs.
Severance packages will soon run out for some, raising new concerns. Underemployment is another worry. Disparities have become more pronounced; recovery has been swifter in the southern part of the county, where Melbourne is located. In Titusville, farther north, empty storefronts and houses sit forlorn. Yet there are subtle signs of recovery: An arts movement is budding, and the town's biggest mall is being redeveloped.
"The county has been split in two," Mr. Telles lamented.
He said he did what he could to market himself. He went back to school for an undergraduate degree in engineering. He learned new skills, including how to polish his résumé. But often, he said, employers saw only his degrees and former salary — and blanched.
"They just said, 'Do I want to pay that guy this much money before he moves on to something else?' " Mr. Telles said.
On March 5, though, he started his new job at nearly the same salary he had at NASA.
"Things are improving," he said, "and as time goes by, it will continue to improve."


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Jeremy Lin, reviving the Knicks & NBA and making history
Haejin Song, Staff Writer
March 20, 2012
May the Best Man Lin. Lincredible. Lin your Face. The headlines are at it again… Linsanity, that is. Fans from all across the nation chant his name, #17 New York Knicks jersey sales are off the charts, and Madison Square Garden is buzzing with the new sensation in town. "MVP, MVP, MVP," roared...


text: Slip into Fall – For fall 2012, Vera Wang embraced slinky silhouettes in autumn hues of wheat, marmalade, blue and ink black. The new season offered lightweight layers with a sensual, skin baring appeal in the form of sheer fabrics. As for outerwear, the coats presented were fur-embellished with geometric prints for an androgynous contrast. For the finale, Wang matched crystal-adorned bodices with airy fabric for an almost bohemian effect.


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Blog Archive
- ► 2018 (17)
- ► 2015 (26)
- ► 2014 (64)
- ► 2013 (124)
- cApRi'S LeMoNaDe StAnD
- please don't squeeze my apples
- 2012 Apple-Azing Race WINNERS
- Apple-Azing Race Challenge – Top 3
- Photo's from Today's Apple-Azing Race!
- Apples and Booth 121
- Play in Sunflower Lane
- The Pumpkin Patch is OPEN!
- Apple-Azing Race Participant Info Letter
- Letter to the Editor
- Joan's Winning Salsa Recipe
- Seed Collecting at Goose Pond Sanctuary Prairies a...
- The Farm Stop And Barley Pop Tour – A Success
- Orchard Photo Shoot – Karmen Linder Photography
- Saucesational – An Experiment in Applesauce: Paul...
- 2012 Map of the Orchard
- Barn Quilt Photo
- Last Night's Storm
- Time to Vote in Fabrics N Quilts Scrap Quilt Contest
- Saucesational – An Experiment in Applesauce: Augus...
- Saucesational – An Experiment in Applesauce: Silken
- Ground Cherry Jam
- Ground Cherry Salsa Recipe
- ▼ September (23)
- ► 2011 (119)
- ► 2010 (95)
- ► 2009 (167)
Informative Blog Posts
Sauce-Sational: An Experiment in Applesacue
- Akane
- Arlet (Swiss Gourmet)
- Baker's Mix - August
- Baker's Mix - October
- Bella
- Bonnie's Best
- Braeburn
- Cameo
- Chenango Strawberry
- Cortland
- Cox Orange Pippin
- Crimson Crisp
- Crimson Gold
- Dandee Red
- Duchess
- Empire
- Fireside
- Frostbite
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ginger Gold
- Golden Delicious
- Golden Supreme
- Granny Smith
- Haralson
- Hazen
- Honey Gold
- Honeycrisp
- Idared
- Jonagold
- Jonamac
- Jonathan
- Jumbo
- Keepsake
- MacIntosh
- Macoun
- Melrose
- Northern Spy
- NW Greening
- Overall Summary
- Paulared
- Red Gravenstein
- Regent
- Sansa
- Scarlet
- Shizuka
- Silken
- Smokehouse
- Smoothee
- Sno (Famuese)
- Snow Sweet
- Spartan
- Sweet 16
- Tolman Sweet
- Valstar
- Wealthy
- William's Pride
- Wolf River
- Zestar!
Popular Posts
Since the orchard now has ground cherries, I wanted to share this easy jam recipe. Ground cherries are delicious as a raw fruit, but they ma...
Apple Varieties with approximate ripening date and short description Listed in order of ripening. *ripening dates may vary year to year ...
The 2018 apple season started out with not the best weather – it rained and rained and rained some more. One afternoon on a whim, my mother...
The Northern Spy is a variety we're just finally starting to get a decent crop off. Northern Spy is an heirloom apple that characteristical...
Bonnie's Best apples are an apple that were developed right here in Wisconsin. They are a great later season tart apple that are nice and c...
This recipe comes from the Wisconsin Apple Grower's Association Cookbook ...looks good to me :) Coconut Apple Cake Janet Brooks, Oshko...
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- Apple Strudel Puff Pastry
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- Apple-Jalepeno Preserves
- Apple-Pecan Cheesecake
- Baked Oatmeal
- Bavarian Apple Torte
- Blueberry French Toast
- Blueberry-Raspberry Streusel Muffins
- Brandied Apple 'N Cream Cheese Pie
- Caramel Apple Bars
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- Creamy Apple Squares
- Crispy Festive Apple Salad
- Cucumber Tomatillo Salsa
- Dill Dip
- Dinner in a Pumpkin
- Easy Waffles
- Egg-cellent Apple Salad
- French Apple Pie
- Fresh Apple Salsa
- Great Apple Dessert
- Great Apple Dessert
- Hot Cinnamon Cider
- Hot Pirate Cider
- Kelly's Favorite Apple Pie
- Maple Roasted Acorn Squash
- Marinated Zucchini Salad
- Microwave Apple Muffins
- Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Pumpkin Gingerbread
- Pumpkin Pie Cake
- Quick Apple Dumplings
- Scalloped Apples
- Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake
- Spiced Apple Bagel
- Spicy Apple Pancake with Cider Sauce
- Strawberry Chocolate Mint Lemonade Cooler
- Tangy Ham in Cider
- Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Warm Apple Pudding
- Wilted Swiss Chard with Fresh Basil
- Zucchini Bread
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Letter to the Editor
Below is the letter I wrote to our local paper to let people know what was actually happening at our orchard this. I thought I'd share it with you all as well…
Do you have any apples?
This seems to be the question on everyone's mind when I run into them at school, the grocery store, or any place that's not our apple orchard.
To hopefully clear a few questions up I wanted to write this letter to the editor since we won't be out in public much for the next few months.
The answer: Yes, we do have apples. We estimate we have a 70 to 80% loss on our crop. Because of this significant loss, we decided that we could support only our retail operation at N1959 Kroncke Road, Poynette, WI. This means that we will not be selling at any of our regular farmer's markets, no wholesale bushels, and the one that hits closest to home to me, no schools.
The good news is that our retail operation feels pretty normal. We grow more than 55 different varieties so there are apples for every taste. We're still making our famous caramel apples and apple cider donuts on weekends. There are plenty of jams and jellies, applesauce and apple pie in a jar…all made by us right here at the orchard. We still have animals, sunflowers, a tractor tire playground, pick your own raspberries and all the other things you've loved about Lapacek's Orchard in the past. We know you'll find it's well worth the trip out to see us.
Apples seem to be ripening much earlier than normal this year. We're running 2 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule on most varieties. If there is a variety of apple that typically doesn't ripen until the end of September, it may already be ripe, picked and on our shelves.
When our crop goes back to normal next year (and yes, it will – only thinking positively around here) we definitely plan to continue at Farmer's Markets and with the school program. Keep an eye on our website, www.lapaceksorchard.com, and our facebook page, www.facebook.com/lapaceksorchard.com to see what's happening at the orchard, when apples are ripening, cider pressing schedules and other special events. Thanks so much for your continued support through this interesting apple season.
~Kim Lapacek